BY US, FOR US, ABOUT US
We are a Black youth-led grassroots organisation empowering Somaali youth through mentorship, leadership and community.
Our story
It started with one room
In 2019, we organised an event called Demystifying Grad School as part of the University of Toronto’s Somali Students Association.
That event made it clear that there was an unmet need for Somaali youth to have mentors who understood their experiences, challenges and could provide guidance. This realisation inspired the creation of Say Somaali, an initiative designed to bridge this gap and provide sustained support to our youth.
The name itself comes from a phrase every Somaali youth knows, "Say wallahi" a way we challenge one another and prove we mean what we say. It also reclaims the common mislabeling of Somaalis as "Somalian" by proudly centering the word "Somaali." Say Somaali carries that same energy, a call to show up, speak up and stand behind who you are.
Because when our youth rise, they lift the whole community with them.
Our values
What we stand for
Islam
Our deen is the foundation of everything we do, grounding our youth in character and purpose.
Empowering
We equip our youth with skills, mentorship and access to opportunities that match their ambition.
Community
Say Somaali runs on people, volunteers, mentors, families and alumni who keep showing up.
Belonging
Our youth walk in and see people who look like them, talk like them and get it. That recognition is what makes this space different.
Be part of what we're building!
Whether you give your time, your skills or your support, there is a place for you in this community.